Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

Seeing the robotic unit operated by Nikko was a surprise, but a hopeful discovery in the darkest hour. He didn't know exactly where to begin in describing the circumstances, though found it to be a good time to inform the others as well.

"There is a Major Arcana in the building—the Devil," Finn admitted.

"An Arcana? Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure, Finn?" Nikko desperately asked for confirmation.

"Yeah, one hundred percent. It's a man that can warp the area around him. He's ruthless and cold; it feels like he's always faster and stronger than whatever you throw at him," Finn divulged what he knew.

"Warp the area? That explains why nobody has been able to get back inside–I see. You said this one appears as a normal man?" Nikko asked for clarification, touching his metallic chin as if in thought.

"Anything but "normal", but yeah. I don't know how to explain it, but it just feels like no matter what, he's always just a bit stronger, faster–just a moment ahead," Finn said, feeling the phantoms of wounds that once persisted on his body.

Charlotte looked at him with concern, shuffling a bit closer as she nudged her arm against his, "It's different now, though–we're here, Finn."

"Yeah," he nodded, holding a small smile, though not sure if he felt it was a benefit.

The black-steel sentry controlled by Nikko raised his left arm, unveiling a hidden blade that popped out, "I will assist you to the best of my ability. It may not be my most recent model, but this prototype will still provide plentiful support in combat." Nikko offered.

"Oh, hell yeah! I've been wanting to see a robot in action!" Jasper excitedly claimed.

"We'll take all the help we can get–" Finn admitted.

Amidst his own words, the entire left side of his body buzzed as he swung his gaze around. It was that stomach-turning sensation; that sickening feeling that rang like an alarm within him.

"He's here!--" Finn shouted, pushing the words desperately from his throat.

As he took the first step, pushing between his comrades in the direction he felt that disgusting presence, he was accompanied by a blaring noise–GRAT-GRAT-GRAT.

The dark floor was brightened with a burst of light from beside him, finding the cyber-pilot holding his left arm forward as a built-in gun rapidly fired bullets. A barrage of gunfire sprayed against the shadow-crept wall, though the sinister silhouette bled between the flashes of light from the bullets.

It was difficult to make out anything through the light of the gunfire, only seeing brief glimpses of the figure.

"Nikko! Hold on!" Finn yelled, reaching his hand over to the robot's arm.

The relentless shots came to an end as the robot glanced to the side, "What is it–?"

No sign of [Nameless] was seen at the other end of the facility, only dozens of bullet holes still left oozing smoke from the wall. There couldn't be a single second of allowing that man to escape his sights, quickly listening in for the quietest footsteps–

He looked over his shoulder, checking behind him as he saw Jasper with his sword and shield ready. A glance was shared between them in that second before he glanced to the other side, seeing Charlotte checking as well as her sword was clad in flames.

As soon as their eyes met, he noticed it right behind her left shoulder; that figure that blended in with the abundant darkness.

["Orcish Boost"] ["Hydrostatic Pressure"] ["Spring Foot"]

Everything was placed into his legs, causing his calves to swell, brimming with energy as he set off with a single push of his foot. He shot forward like a bullet, forcing his dagger to intercept the knife that crept towards Charlotte's neck.

He begged for his arm to stretch far enough, to be quick enough to block it–CLANG.

Against that knife that claimed far too many lives already, he pushed against it, immediately stepping in closer to the depraved man to retaliate with his second blade. He intended the blade to slash through the man's throat, though it only pushed through shadows as the figure vanished into the darkness.

'Shit–' Finn reprimanded himself.

The exchange lasted less than a split-second before he immediately spun around, seeing the unprepared looks on the others' faces. He couldn't blame them, considering none of them had faced the ruthless killer, though there was no time to learn.

"Listen! This one is relentless! You can't let up for a second–don't leave yourself open at all! He'll jump onto any opening–he'll strike to kill at the smallest window!" Finn shouted, trying to get the information out as quickly as he could.

It was amidst his own words that he had to enact caution, hearing his companions begin to shout back, though to warn him. He could feel the presence bubbling up from right beneath him, forcing him to slide back as he slashed his dagger.

At the same moment, the sinister figure erupted from the ground as if unfolding from the shadows.

CLANG–

He clashed his dagger against the knife, stopping it from sinking into his heart once again. As he caught the sneak attack, the others came in; Charlotte, Jasper, and Nikko unraveled their blades on the position of the Devil yet–

The figure contorted his body, flipping back before any piece of steel could touch his skin. It was an eerie kind of nimbleness to witness from a man of his frame, like an acrobat without a bone in his body.

Every part of him wanted to blink or warp to break the distance, though he was forced simply to dash forward.

Beating him to the position of the landed killer was the black-steel robot, who moved with vibrations fluctuating in the air from his heels. Nikko arrived with a spinning leap, using flames that propelled from his feet to ignite his speed as a metallic kick was delivered overhead to the Devil–

With a single arm, the axe kick was blocked as the dark fringes of the killer parted just briefly, showing that glint of malice in those black pearls. As seamless as water flowing down a river, the man moved to counter immediately as the knife stabbed into the robot's leg multiple times in succession.

Finn arrived alongside the knight and spellblade, surrounding the killer in that moment. Fighting in such close proximity to his companions limited his offensive options; it was the same for them, too.

["Adhesive Grip"]

He practically glued the handle of his daggers to his hands, making sure there was nothing but his utmost strength gripping them as he closed in. Towards the wordless killer's neck, his dagger moved; Jasper's sword moved towards his left shoulder, while Charlotte primed her blade to slice into his back.

Yet–

All of it was intercepted by a spin from the enigmatic figure, repelling their assembled assault with nothing but his knife.

Finn stumbled back, knocked off his balance; Charlotte was left the same, but Jasper and Nikko managed to catch themselves.

For the knight, a quick skill was initiated–

["Banishment"]

From his right hand, Jasper tossed golden chains that sought to grasp the elusive man. The figure dropped down on all fours, rolling out of the way before hopping back up, flicking the gold links back with a slash of his knife.

From behind, Nikko closed off the killer's escape, cocking his metal fist back as the knuckles opened with hidden compartments–BOOM.

A punch from the robot came, ignited with a gunshot that launched right from the fist, though it hardly came close to striking [Nameless]. Instead, the fist of the cybernetic sentry was removed from its arm with an electrical buzz.

"That's a problem—" Nikko remarked.

A follow-up was attempted from the sinister man, pushing his knife towards the robot's head. Finn sprinted in from the right, while Charlotte came in from the other side.

While he intended to intercept the killer alongside the spellblade, their pincer attack was cast aside as the man vanished into the shadows.

"Shit!—" Finn reacted.

He dug his boot into the ground, forcing himself to come to a stop just short of a headbutt with Charlotte.

"Gah!" Charlotte flinched.

There was no time to exchange a word as he instantly glanced around for where the elusive man would sprout from next. It was becoming like a lethal game of whack-a-mole; an impossible difficulty.

The mechanical construct built by Nikko extended minuscule fragments from its separated arm, swiftly rebuilding its own limb.

"I can still keep going. Just worry about protecting your own bodies—" Nikko's voice emitted from the robot.

Finn saw it was a split-second, not hesitating to love, "Jasper!"

The warning came just as the knight pivoted, raising his shield to guard against wherever the knife came from.

["Azure Fortification"]

A blue hum clad itself to the knight, acting as a secondary exterior of astral armor that bolstered his shield as well.

All of that to stop the knife, yet it sank right past the armaments.

As though it were butter, the enchanted shield was pierced easily.

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